US teacher revisits Chinese desert-control project 27 years later

American former high school history teacher Ronald Sakolsky is returning to China to revisit relationships and a stunning forest his contributions helped to plant in the Mu Us Desert 27 years ago.

Sakolsky was inspired to contribute to China's desert-control efforts in 1999 after seeing a news segment featuring Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese desert-control pioneer, while he was working as an English language teacher in the country.

At that time, Yin and her husband had planted about 5,000 acres of trees on the edge of the desert near their home. Deeply moved by her dedication, Sakolsky raised $5000 from U.S. donors for the Chinese desert-control pioneers in 1999.

The small swathe of green Yin started has now expanded to more than 8 million trees, covering more than 11,000 acres of once-barren land.

CGTN  America caught up with Sakolsky as he was departing the United States to China on Friday, Aug. 21.  He'll make his way from Beijing to Luoyang, and finally to the Mu Us Desert.   Take a look.

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